Drama As Urhobo Monarchs Approve Dissolution Of UPU Executive

A discordant tone erupted yesterday at the 84th general meeting of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) held at Uvwiamuge, Delta State.

While a vote of confidence was passed on the Chief Joe Omene’s administration at Uwviamuge, another meeting of Urhobo traditional rulers, which took place at the same time at Olomu, approved the dissolution of the Union’s executive.

The monarchs also approved that a nine- man caretaker committee be put in place to run the affairs of the union, until a new executive body is constituted.

But Omene said efforts were being made to make UPU united again, adding that the Urhobo have realised that factions are inimical to the interest of the Urhobo people.

He said the Urhobos would need to put their political differences aside for the unity of Urhobo nation.

Though the view is rife that attendance at the 84th meeting was poor, Omene disagreed saying that all key officers attended.

He said the Urhobo were responsible for its political woes in Delta state, when he said, “We sabotaged our own candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, by either not out rightly voting for him and plotting intrigues with internal forces to outwit the Urhobo choice, and hence he lost. Regrettably, this was what played out at the PDP’s gubernatorial primaries also, where our Urhobo delegates voted for their interest instead of Urhobo interest, and Chief David Edevbie, our endorsed candidate lost”.